Blair native Duane R. “Moose” Nielsen, 66, died Saturday, Feb. 23, 2008, in Alexandria, Va. A memorial gathering was held in Alexandria on Feb. 28.

Duane R. Nielsen was born Nov. 4, 1941, in Blair, to Gifford and Marie Nielsen. He attended Blair High School and graduated in 1959.

He began his career in construction with his brother, Jim, at Nielsen Construction. He eventually relocated to Texas. There, he began working for Hensel Phelps Construction Company, which is where he spent the last 22 years. His position as an area superintendent gave him the opportunity to live in different states throughout the U.S., where he met many special people and lifelong friends, one of whom was his wife Pat (Erlanson) Nielsen.

He is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Jeff and Mable Nielsen of Council Bluffs, Iowa; daughter and son-in-law, Juli and Chuck Eckert of La Vista; one grandson; two granddaughters; first wife, Patti Conner; mother-in-law, Vernice Erlanson; stepson and daughter-in-law, Stephen and Evelyn Ayres of McKinney, Texas; stepdaughter and son-in-law, Stephanie and Sonny Solis of Liberty Hills, Texas; two step-granddaughters; brother Jim Nielsen of Blair; sisters Marlene Hansen of Omaha, and Betty Mlejnek of Hastings; brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, and many other loving family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Roger Nielsen and his wife, Pat Nielsen.

In lieu of flowers, and because of his deep love for his grandchildren, a memorial fund has been established for them in his name. Gifts may be made to the Duane Nielsen Memorial Fund, c/o Great Western Bank, P.O. Box 4070, 72nd and Giles-Jennifer, Omaha, NE 68104

Note: An obituary in the World Herald newspaper on 8 March 2008 was almost word-for-word the same.

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~